‘The Lives of Animals’ delves into the evolving dynamics between humans and animals—from shared existence to dominance—throughout history. Taking its name from South African writer J. M. Coetzee’s novel that questions anthropocentrism and reflects on empathy and compassion toward animals, the exhibition challenges social hierarchies that define human-animal relationships and opens up space for imagining alternative forms of coexistence. At the heart of the exhibition are works by German-Iraqi activist artist Lin May Saeed, who passed away in 2023 and is known for her poignant critiques of animal cruelty. Her pieces provide the intellectual foundation for a broader conversation, enriched by works from artists across Turkey and the world. The exhibition also includes an archival project focused on the street dogs of Istanbul. Featured artists include Apian, Noor Abuarafeh, Pierre Bismuth, melanie bonajo, Elen Braga, Sue Coe, Golden Snail Opera Collective (Isabelle Carbonell, Joelle Chevrier, Yen-Ling Tsai, Anna Tsing), Elmas Deniz, Simone Forti, Piero Giraldi, Laura Lima, Dafna Maimon, Britta Marakatt-Labba, David Maroto, Ad Minoliti, Füsun Onur, Jean Painlevé, Janis Rafa, Maria Roza, Necla Rüzgar, Lin May Saeed, and Uriburu.
The exhibition is on view at SALT Beyoğlu from April 16 to August 10.
